Refrigerating apparatus



Dec. 17, 1929. J. G. KING REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed April50, 1923 m w --N *5 [27172725525 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE JESSE G. KING, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR', BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF DELA- WARE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filedApril 30, 1923, Serial No. 635,433. Renewed June 29, 1929.

This invention relates to automatic valves and particularly the type ofvalve controlled by the temperature of the fluid passing throught it.

Among the objects of the invention are to adjust the thermostat elementof the valve from the exterior without allowin the fluid to escape, toprovide for maintaining the thermostat in operative condition from theexterior of the valve, and to protect the thermostat from the influenceof temperature surrounding the exterior of the valve.

The inventionprovides a thermostat including a metal bellows partlyfilled with a volatile fluid such as ether or methyl chloride. Themovement of the bellows is resisted in one direction by a spring. Thespring can be adjusted from the exterior of the valve and liquid can bepoured into'the bellows without unsealing the valve bodyand without anyfluid in valve escaping. The thermostat is enclosed so that none of itswalls are exposed to outside atmosphere, therefore the influence ofoutside temperature is minimized.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerating apparatus towhich the present type of valve is applied;

Fig. 2 is a sectional viewof the valve; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings a refrigerating cabinet 20 is provided with amachine compartment 21 having a base 22 upon which is mounted acompressor 23 driven by-motor 24. The refrigerating cabinet alsocomprises a food compartment 26 and a cooling compartment 27. A brinetank cradle 28 is suspended by bolts 29 from the top of the cabinetwithin the cooling compartment 27 and carries it bring tank 31 and anevaporatonghamber 32. Refrigerant gas is drawn out of theea apioratorchamber 32 by the compressor 23"through the pipe 34. The gas which iscompressed nected with an extension 45 of the end member 41by coupling46. The upper end of the body 40 is provided with a boss 48 into whichis screwed a shank 50 which extends also through the boss 48. Shank 50is provided with a flange 51 to which one end ofa metallic bellows 52 iattached. The other end of the bellows 52 is connected to a flange 53which is provided with a shank 54 adapted to slide within a hollow guide55 in the extension 45. End 51 merges into a sleeve 57 and is adapted toreceive a boss 58' which extends a sub- I stantial distance into thesleeve 57. A spring 59 is located within the sleeve and interposedbetween the end 51 and a top of the boss 58 and normally tends to forcethe boss 58 and likewise the shank 54 downwardly. Shank 54 carries avalve 61 adapted to cooperate with a seat 62 formed within the extension45. Shank 54 is provided with flat surfaces 64 (see Fig. 3) whereby thecontents may pass between said shank and the guide 55'. Valve 61controls the flow of contents from the valve body chamber 42 through apassage 63 which leads to the pipe 38. larged opening 65 at the upperend thereof for receiving packing 66 and a packing gland 67 screwed intoopening in boss 48 and provided with screw driven or spanner wrenchslots 67?. Shank 50 is provided with a cen-'. tral bore 50 for thepurpose of introducing a liquid into the metal bellows 52. The end ofthe shank is sealed by a screw 69 and packing 7 O. A cap 7 2 is screwedinto boss 48 and the joint is sealed with the aid of a'packing 73. Aliquid is poured into the metal bellows 52 to substantially the levelindicated at 75.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The boss 48 has an en- \Vhen the refrigerating apparatus is inoperation, the compressor with the aid of a condenser causes the gas tobe liquefied in the pipe 36. This liquid passes into the body &0 andafter a certain amount of liquid has flowed into the chamber 42 it willcover enough of the bellows 52 to cool the liquid therein to such adegree astocause the bellows to contract and open valve (51 so that thefluid in chamber 42 can flow out through passage 63. The refrigerantfluid then flows to the evaporator chamber 32 through the pipe 38. Afterthe cooling compartment 27 has been cooled to a suflicient degree themotor 24 is rendered inoperative in any suitable well known manner.While the motor is idle gas will not be pumped and the liquid within thechamber 42 will expand and heatthe liquid within the bellows causing thevalve 61 to close.

The extending portion of the shank 50 is provided with flats 7 7 forreceiving a wrench whereby the shank can be screwed up or down wherebyto raise or lower the flange 51 to decrease or increase the compressionof the spring 59. These flats 77 extend beyond the end of the boss 48and are readily accessible after the cap 72 has been removed.

The valve thermostat includes bellows 52, flanges 51 and 53, the spring59 and the volatile liquid contained within the bellows.

The thermostat can be maintained in operative condition from theexterior of the valve without unsealing the valve and allowing any fluidin the valvev bod to escape. Means are provided whereby the bellows maybe charged with a liquid without removing same from the valve body 40.Also, since the bellows need not be removed the contents of the body 40will not escape when the bellows are charged. It is only necessary whenrecharging the bellows 52 to remove the cap 72 and then remove the screw69.

The tension of the thermostat spring 59 can readily be adjusted bymerely removing the cap 72 therebyexposing the flats 77 on the end ofshank 50 and providing for the application of a wrench; There is slightchance for the escape of the contents of the valve 40 duringtheadjustment of the spring 59. The entire thermostat unit including the.valve 61, bellows 52, and the shank 50 can be removed by unscrewing theend member 41 and then unscrewing the shank 50 from the valve body.

The valve as is herein shown and described provides a control forrefrigerant which is subjected and controlled substantially only by thetemperature of the refrigerant. The thermostat is enclosed within thebody 40 and none of its walls 51, 52,"0r 53 are in contact with thesurrounding atmosphere. Therefore the thermostat is not influenced bythe direct temperature of the cooling compartment or brine tank, but isresponsive more nearly only to the temperature of the liquid within saidbody 40.

While the form of mechanism herein described and illustrated constitutesa preferred embodiment of one form of the invention, it is to beunderstood that other forms might be adopted and various changes andalterations made in the shape, size, and prospring within said containernormally tend ing to maintain the valve stem element in a certainposition, said thermostat being enclosed within said body for actuatingsaid "valve elements relatively to one another and means operable fromthe exterior of the body for adjusting the tension of said sprin tocontrol the temperature at which said t ermostat opens or closes saidvalve.

2. In a temperature responsive device, the combination with a body forreceiving a fluid and provided with a valve seat element; of a movablevalve stem element cooperating with said valve seat for controlling theflow of said fluid; a thermostat enclosed within said body for actuatinsaid valve elements relatively to one anot ier, and means exterior ofthe body for adjusting the temperature at which said thermostat opens orcloses said valve, said thermostat comprising an expansible andcontractile body containing a quantity of liquid having approximatelythe same boiling point as the fluid passing through the valve.

3. A valve for controlling the flow of a fluid, said valve including abody for the fluid to be controlled and provided with a valve seatelement; a thermostat including a closed expansible and contractilefluid container enclosed within the body, a spring interposed betweenopposed walls of said container, a movable valve stem elementcooperating with said valve seat carried by one of said opposed walls,the other of said walls having a boss threaded into a Wall of the bodyand extending to the exterior of the body and having means exterior ofthe body for rotating with same for adjusting the tension of the spring.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

JESSE G. KING.

